Russia's Ministers Wary of New Year's Gifts After Ulyukayev Trial

Russian government officials and state company executives are reportedly refusing New Year’s gifts this holiday season after a former government minister was convicted for bribery last week.

Former Economic Development Minister Alexei Ulyukayev was sentenced to 8 years in a high-security prison for accepting a $2-million bribe in November last year from Igor Sechin, the CEO of state oil company Rosneft.

Ulyukayev, the first serving minister to be arrested since the fall of the Soviet Union, claimed throughout the trial he had thought Sechin's gift consisted of sausages and wine. He later warned fellow civil servants that anyone was “three clicks” away from being charged with corruption.